SWR community overwhelmingly approves bond referendum

On Tuesday, Jan. 13, residents of the Shoreham-Wading River School District approved the district’s capital project bond referendum by a vote of 1,421 to 585.

“We are grateful to our community for their overwhelming support of our district,” said Board of Education President Dr. William McGrath. “By approving this project, we will be able to move forward with critical renovations to our schools. Among these are eliminating the portables at Miller Avenue and Wading River elementary schools and replacing them with classroom additions, and making significant, needed improvements to our athletic resources to benefit both our students and the community members who use them.”

Added Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steven R. Cohen, “Through the passage of this project, our residents have made their voices heard and said that they want a robust community-based school district in their future. We will now have the facilities to complement the quality education that is currently provided to our students.”

The $48.5 million “Renewal” Project will create improved instructional space, preserve the basic integrity of the district’s school buildings, promote energy efficiencies, and improve athletic fields and resources for the schools and community. BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers serves as the architect, engineer and athletic field designer for the entire construction program to be financed by the bond.

“The construction program will significantly improve the condition of all buildings occupied by students and faculty, renovate instructional spaces, promote energy efficiency, improve motorized traffic safety within school grounds, and rebuild athletic fields and tennis courts,” said BBS Principal Architect Roger P. Smith. “The district’s facilities have not received any major improvements since they were built in the 1960s and 1970s. The renovation program will bring these buildings to the 21st century’s standards of design, safety, codes, efficiency and educational facility planning.”